Sikkim is located in the eastern Himalayan region
with its capital being Gangtok. The name signifies 'house of five
treasures', which represents the five towering summits. It is one of the
smallest Indian states. The major peak of this region is Kangchenjunga.
The best time to visit Sikkim is between March and May and between
October and December. The state is protected and guarded by
Kangchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain peak at an altitude of
8,590m. Sikkim is now India's 22nd state.
The state of Sikkim is mainly divided into four divisions i.e. east,
west, north and south. Gangtok in the eastern district is the most
populated area and one of the major tourist attractions as it is also
the commercial center of Sikkim. After the eastern district comes the
southern and western district while the northern area is very thinly
populated because of its unfavorable climate and steep ridges. The
climate of Sikkim varies according to the altitudes of the peaks. To
avoid severe cold it is better to visit during the months of March to
late May and between October to December.
Places to Visit
Gangtok is the main center of attraction of Sikkim. The Buddhist past
is very much visible in each and every parts of Gangtok. Some of the
main attractions of Sikkim are the Enchey monastery, Pemayengtse and the
marvelous Rumtek monastery and the Institute of Tibetology. Another
major attraction of Sikkim is the two-day Phanglhapsol festival, which
is a cultural festival of Sikkim where people performs masked dances in
honour of Kanchenjunga, presiding deity and the mountain. Adventure
sports are also a very good option in Sikkim. A vacation in Sikkim is
more like a voyage of adventure and exploring the nature. In adventure
sports you can opt for rafting or kayaking experience in Teesta River.
You can also go for mountaineering expedition to the unexplored peaks of
the eastern Himalayas. And for safari trip lovers you can opt for the
Yak safari, which is just amazing.
